Railroad Engineering Certificate Application Process

Our graduate application system is designed to put you in control of the application and all documents associated with it.

You’ll need:

1. A completed online application
2. A bachelor’s degree in civil, mechanical engineering, or a related academic background from a regionally accredited institution
3. A current résumé
4. A GPA of at least 3.0. (If your GPA is below 3.0, you should still apply, as we take your strengths and skills in other areas into account.)
5. Unofficial copies of your transcripts (we'll need official versions once you're admitted)
6. A personal statement

The Graduate Certificate in Railroad Engineering is available online, allowing students to view the content as their weekly schedule permits. All homework and exams are also available to be taken and submitted online.

Required Core Courses (three out of four courses)

CIEG614 Railroad Geotechnical Engineering - 3 Credits

Designing, constructing, maintaining railway track. Developing railway track substructure: materials, mechanics, drainage, loading, slopes, design, maintenance, measurements and management and case studies. Track sub-structure issues related to load freight and high-speed passenger rail traffic.

CIEG617 Intro to Railroad Safety & Derailment Engineering - 3 Credits

Explores the engineering issues associated with common types of derailments, including track, equipment and operator derailments. The specific failure mechanisms associated with key classes of derailments are examined along with the technologies available for reducing these types of derailments.

CIEG618 Intro to Railroad Engineering - 3 Credits

Introduction to railroad track structures and their major components, including functions and modes of degradation and failure. Explore static and dynamic load environments and engineering design to effectively distribute loads throughout a structure. Provides both theoretical and practical approaches to track design as well as useful design, optimization and maintenance recommendations for key track components.

CIEG667* Railroad Inspection and Maintenance Management - 3 Credits

Explores inspection technologies used in the railway industry to maintain a safe and efficient operating environment. The principles behind the inspection methods will be covered including the sensors and algorithms utilized to transform the sensor data into physical measurements. The data resulting from these inspection methods will be used to develop degradation relationships and maintenance forecasting models using linear, non-linear and machine learning techniques.
*New course being introduced in Spring 2027

Note: All graduate railroad engineering courses require undergraduate level background in engineering or equivalent.

We're Committed to Affordability

$1,116 Per Credit Hour

You could fund your program by receiving a grant, qualifying for federal or private loans, utilizing military benefits or pursuing employer tuition reimbursement. Our dedicated admissions and financial personnel will help you through the process, including enrolling in a payment plan if applicable.

Additional information about tuition and financial aid can be found on the Student Financial Services page.

Railroad activity in the United States is growing, with expansion across all modes to include  freight, passenger (inter-urban and commuter), transit, and emerging high-speed rail. In addition,  many of the most experienced engineers and supervisors are retiring, leaving a gap in knowledge, experience and capability. As a result there is a growing  need for highly trained professionals to ensure operating safety, efficiency, and cost effective use of resources. This certificate program helps fill that need and help its graduate advance in the field of railroad and transit engineering.

Applications are accepted until the first day of the fall and spring semesters. The Academic Calendar can be found here.